Abu Dhabi vs Sharjah

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Abu Dhabi grades better on 6 measures, Sharjah on 1; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Abu Dhabi 60, Sharjah 60
• OECD: Abu Dhabi 66, Sharjah 64
• UN Tourism: Abu Dhabi 64, Sharjah 65
• UNDRR: Abu Dhabi 56, Sharjah 59

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Abu Dhabi 95, Sharjah 67
• Economy and jobs: Abu Dhabi 94, Sharjah 81
• Climate and hazards: Abu Dhabi 35, Sharjah 35
• Water and environment: Abu Dhabi 38, Sharjah 42
• Community and housing: Abu Dhabi 50, Sharjah 100
• Access and continuity: Abu Dhabi 67, Sharjah 63

Where Abu Dhabi is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 48.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Aletihad Newspaper / Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 12 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi / TTN Worldwide, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 3.2 nights per visitor (region figure) (Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Hotel Performance Report 2024 (reported by Aletihad), 2024). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Economic diversity: 86.2 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD), Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2020, 2019). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 551.2 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD), Waste Statistics, 2014). Between 550 and 700: grade 1/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Abu Dhabi Airports, AD Ports Group, Etihad Rail, Integrated Transport Centre, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Where Sharjah is stronger

• Rent growth: 1.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Bayut Property Rental Index, Jul 2025–Jul 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United Arab Emirates: #22 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Abu Dhabi in full · Sharjah in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot